skip to main |
skip to sidebar
My daughter was very creative for her debt-free wedding . . . and one item in particular impressed me. She created fans--using paint stir sticks and construction paper--and then pasted her order of worship onto the fan, along with the names of those in the wedding party.
This was an easy item to create, but one that was both functional (outdoor wedding) and beautiful. And the cost was super low.
Instead of making your programs, or paying big bucks to have them produced by off-set printers or at KINKOS, why not make your own?
Fans are only one idea; I'm sure you could think of others.
But bottom line, you don't have to spend top money to have a top flight ceremony. Use your imagination and use the setting itself.
Welcome to Debt-Free Wedding blog, written by a dad who just paid for his daughter's debt-free wedding and the author of Your Beautiful Wedding on Any Budget, Debt-Free Wedding (Kindle), and Before You Say "I Do". He is also the author of dozens of bridal and wedding articles. Be sure sure to drop by here to plan your debt-free event!
The talk from Kelly Ripa this week was that, sixteen years ago, she spent a whopping $279 TOTAL on her wedding. As she described her wedding costs she noted that she and the groom used free travel miles, stayed in cut-rate hotels, and basically had a destination wedding for very little cost. As Ripa noted, even adjusted for inflation, this would adjust to a very low-cost wedding in 2012.
How true.
Average cost of a wedding/reception event now? A whopping $27,000!
Think you can do a wedding for less? Sure you can! In fact, my daughter's recent wedding cost far less than this. With simple taste, some help from a shrewd wedding planner, and a do-it-yourself attitude, you can create a low cost wedding . . . and certainly a debt-free wedding. Save your money and pay-as-you-go!
I'm not sure what Ripa's attitude and secret was sixteen years ago (or if she would spend only $279 on her wedding if she were getting married in 2012), but clearly she doesn't view a wedding as the largest and most extravagant event in her life. Better save those dollars for important matters like college education, anniversaries, and even fitness.
What do you think? How inexpensive could your wedding be in 2012?
Here's a low-cost decorating idea I learned from a wedding planner. Instead of going in for fancy lighting arrangements, ribbons and bows, or labor-intensive decorations, use white strands of Christmas tree lights to add a splash of light (but not too much) to the dinner reception. Chances are, no one will notice the lights, but the lights will make the room feel warmer and more welcoming.
Best time to buy these lights? The week or two after Christmas, when stores are marking down Christmas inventory drastically.
If you can plan ahead, purchase your lights then a save a bundle on this portion of your wedding decor. Doesn't take much effort to light up the room, and if you have a color scheme, you could also opt for lights with a splash of color, too.
